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Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed he could have helped Paul Gascoigne avoid the pitfalls of fame, if the former England midfielder had played for Manchester United.

Troubled: Paul Gascoigne

Gazza was released from hospital on Monday after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act for the second time this year.

The 41-year-old has been fighting a long battle against alcoholism which began during his playing career.

And United boss Ferguson believes if Gazza had joined his club, rather than Tottenham, back in 1988 he could have provided the kind of influence which would have seen the player avoid the problems which blighted his career and later life.

On Gazza’s decision to join Spurs Ferguson said: ‘I think it was a bad mistake, and Paul admits that.

‘We had Bryan Robson, a Geordie. Steve Bruce, a Geordie. Gary Pallister, from Middlesbrough. We had a structure of players who could have helped him and it could have given him some discipline.’